The death of Reuben Heywood occurred at tea
time on Wednesday 6th November 2002, at the age of 103 years.
Reuben, who fought in the WW1 trenches with 10th Battalion
South Wales Borderers, was invalided out of the army in 1918
after being severely wounded in both legs at Bapaume, Belgium.
He convalesced in Cheltenham before returning to civilian
life. During the Second World War he served in the Home Guard.
In December 1998 Reuben was invited to Manchester Town Hall
to receive the French Legion of Honour from the Lord Major
of Manchester and the French Consul. In October 2000, this
WW1 veteran returned to Brecon after 82 years to visit the
Regimental Museum of the South Wales Borderers.
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(c) Dragon News and Picture Agency
In July 2002 he was specially invited to a Royal Garden Party at
Buckingham Palace where he was introduced to HRH Princess Anne –
The Princess Royal. Reuben, proudly wearing his regimental tie and
accompanied by his daughter Brenda, travelled from Manchester to
London by train for the great day.
On 17th October he was invited, along with other veterans and television
presenter Gordon Burns, to the Imperial War Museum for the Royal
British Legion’s launch of this year’s Poppy Appeal.
Private Reuben Heywood is thought to have been the last surviving
member of the 60,000 Borderers who served in the Great War.
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